The following experience was to me very wonderful and spiritual in that it has strengthened my testimony of the power of the priesthood and the willingness of our Father in Heaven to hear and answer our prayers.
During March and most of April. 1953, I experienced increasing physical tiredness and nervous tension. No amount of rest seemed to help. Finally, by April 26th, which was a Sunday, a very server pain centered where my neck joins my head. I was so weakened and tired I had to force myself around. The least little disturbance by the children put my nerves on edge. By evening I was unable to attend sacrament meeting.
My wife Verlean, put the children to bed early, and I sat in the living room thinking about my condition and wondering what was wrong and what to do. Two weeks earlier I had visited our family doctor, but he had been unable to help me. The thought came to my mind that I had done all that I could for myself, and now it was time to call upon the Lord for help.
I called Brother E Glen Cameron, who I knew was favored of the Lord because of his faith and obedience. To some is given the power of healing, and
Brother Cameron had an abundance of this power.
After my brother David anointed me, Brother Cameron sealed the anointing. and pronounced a rather remarkable blessing upon my head. He said that I had an ordeal to go through and that I would come through it all right. Also, that afterwards I had a mission to perform. He told me many comforting things, blessing me that I should have a good night's rest and that I would know what to do about my condition. I felt the Spirit of the Lord very strongly.
That night I enjoyed my first good rest in weeks. By morning all indecision had left me--I knew what I had to do. AI felt something serious was about to happen to me, that I had very little time to get my affairs in order.
Immediately upon arising I telephoned my sister Mary in Salt Lake City and asked her to make an appointment with the Intermountain Clinic for the next day. I started for Salt Lake that afternoon, but after driving fifteen miles my strength left me and I was forced to return and have my brother take me.
The following Sunday was in the LDS Hospital, paralyzed to the extent that I could not move my right side, face, arm or leg. I lost the powder to swallow. My air passage being affected, I had to undergo a tracheototomy. and have a metal tube inserted through and opening in my neck and part way down into my lungs so I would not choke to death. The paralysis continued to spread until my lungs stopped functioning. I was placed in an iron lung. Next day my temperature was 106 degrees. In my helplessness all I could do was lie with my eyes half open, for I could not close them. I could not speak for my tongue was also affected. As far as AI could tell, the only arts of my body that were functioning were my vision, my hearing, my mind, which was clear and active and my heart which hurt with every beat. ( The doctor later told me that it was working as hard as if I were running uphill at a dead run twenty four hours steadily.) This caused him much concern because I have a rheumatic heart condition that had caused all the valves to leak.
By evening my doctor informed my family that three out of every ten people with poly neuritis do not live. He said that he had never seen such a severe case as mine. There was no proved medicine. It would just have to run its course. At this time there were about thirty cases in the United States.
My father received a telephone call from Brother Grant J Wright who heard of my plight and felt he had a blessing for me. Since only the family was allowed to see me, my father and step-mother came back with him. When I felt hands placed upon my head father said, "It's all right, son. Brother Wright is here and we are going to administer to you."
Brother Wright rebuked the sickness and commanded it to depart, and declared that I would be restored to health and strength. It was the shortest, most positive, most forceful blessing I have ever had. He patted my step-mother on the shoulder. "Do not worry," he said. "He will be all right " This was astonishing to her because when he had said in the blessing that I would get well she had thought, "Oh no, he is promising to much."
That night my temperature dropped to 104 degrees; the next day to 102 degrees.
I began to be alive again to the extent that the pain and uncomfortableness of my condition was almost more than I could endure.
By Saturday night it took all of my control to keep from screaming. This was my state of mind when late that night into my room walked and old friend, Rudy Licklow, who was now a bishop. One of his counselors accompanied him. Rudy wanted to know if I had been administered to. I told him that AI had.
I have thought many times about what followed. I have come to the conclusion that the blessing I received from Rudy and his companion was a continuation of the blessing I had received under the hands of my father and Brother Wright. After Rudy had sealed the anointing, he paused in his prayer so long that my sister Juanita started to cry, fearing there was no blessing for me. Then he said, " Lucifer has sought to destroy you." He paused again. (He later explained that a power had taken hold of him and attempted to prevent him from giving the blessing that he knew in his heart the Lord had for me. During this pause he had prayed silently to the Lord to release him from this power so that he could speak. The Lord opened up to his mind a vision of a large congregation, he said he saw me standing there among them bearing my testimony to them. Then he was able to go on.) This is your blessing," he continued with no hesitation the words came forth. He told me that through the power of the Aaronic priesthood ministering angels would minister unto me, that I would be able to rejoice in my recovery, which would be so rapid that the doctors and nurses would be amazed, and that the hours would no longer be tedious. He said that the Lord had a work for me to do and a mission for me to perform. Then he promised me many wonderful things Which had such a comforting influence that my heart was filled, and I cried through the last half of the blessing.
Now an amazing thing happened. With the words. : This is your blessing," a marvelous power slowly went through me, starting where their hands touched my head and proceeding throughout my body until it reached my feet. After it had passed, all pain and nervousness were gone. From that time on the blessing took its stead, healing effect.
Rudy later told me that all the strength had drained from his body, and he had to hold on to the iron lung for support when he finished. As he was about to leave he turned to me and said, "Now Bob, you remember this blessing is all the way--are you ready to do your part?"
The doctor entered the room to find my sister and myself crying and these two men ready to leave. With obvious concern he demanded to know what was going on, supposing they had been telling me how sick I really was. My sister explained that an old friend had just given me a blessing.
After checking all the equipment the doctor asked me to raise my arms, and when I did he shouted "KEEN Now let's see if you can raise your left leg." I did so and was even able to raise my right one part way. He was very much pleased; earlier that day I had not been able to raise either my arms or my legs.
The following Saturday I was taken out of the iron lung and given exercises. A week later I was able to sit up and feed myself. The next Saturday I could walk so well that I was released two weeks later.
Back to work, strong and well, by the middle of June. The doctors had told my family that I would be fortunate indeed if I could go back to my job within a year
on a limited basis. They cautioned them to be patient and cheerful. I was not to be told how long and discouraging the process would be. This was the normal course, after such a serious illness. But don't expect miracles--.
But miracles are expected of the power of God. And they are accepted gratefully by those who trust in Him. It is my testimony that ministering angles did attend me in my recovery. On one occasion--well, let me say that I know that they were there. There are certain experiences that are too scared to be told. It was through there ministrations that the paralysis was released from my body by degrees as fast as I could recover strength to take advantage of this progress.
When I discovered I could walk again, I invited the doctor to watch. He made hurried motions to support me, but I shook his hand loose and walked around the room twice. a grin lightened his face. "Who would have ever believed it."